Chicago Paper Bag Provision is Short-sighted
(Washington DC, USA, Nov. 16, 2016) American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman issued the following statement in response to the Chicago City Council’s passage of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to amend the city bag ordinance by placing a 7-cent fee on both paper and plastic bags.
“Government imposed product taxes not only increase costs for consumers and disproportionately impact those who are low-income, but can also substantially distort the free flow of recoverable materials, such as paper. The paper and paper-based packaging industry has achieved a consistently high rate of recovery voluntarily. In 2015, 66.8 percent of all paper consumed in the United States was recovered for recycling, and the recovery rate has met or exceeded 63 percent since 2009.
“Imposing a tax on paper products discourages consumers from using products that are recyclable, biodegradable, compostable and reusable.” (Source: AF&PA)
